Programmer for electric household appliances

ABSTRACT

In a programmer for electric household appliances and having a continuously rotating reversing cam unit, a program cam unit which rotates in step-by-step motion, identical contactor elements capable of being actuated by the cams and stacked in any desired number, said contactor elements being mounted between two end-plates and comprising male connectors which can be associated with movable connectors connected to contact-strips and fitted with contact-points, means for driving the program cams in stepby-step motion and associated with means for putting them temporarily out of action and at least one constant-speed electric motor, the fact that the end-plate which limits the stack of contactor elements on one side constitutes a separate contactor element which is adapted to receive stationary and movable contacts and has a continuous surface which is pierced by a central hole which serves as a bearing for the cam shaft, by smooth holes for fixing the apparatus by means of screws engaged without previous tapping in the said holes which are so arranged as to permit all the usual fixing arrangements, and by holes for the pivotal mounting of the swivel-pins of effort-multiplication levers for controlling from the cams contact-strips which are intended to serve as a general switch and consequently to have a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position.

United States Patent [72| Inventor Jean Jullien-Davin Valence, France [21 Appl. No. 833,607 221 Filed June 16, 1969 [45] Patented July 27, 1971 [73] Assignee Grouzet Paris, France [32] Priority June 21, 1968 33] France [31] [56,201

M [54] PROGRAMMER FOR ELECTRIC HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES 11 Claims, 18 Drawing Figs. ,r 52 user 200 38 R, 200/38 BA [51] Int. Cl H0lh 7/08, HOlh 43/10 [50] Field of Smrch 200/38 B, 38 B], 38 C, 168 S, 6 B1, 38, 38 R, 38 BA, 6 BA, 168 K; 335/74, 75 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,306,996 2/1967 Simmons et al 200/38 (B) 3,330,918 7/1967 Linn ZOO/38 3,373,253 3/1968 Davin 200/38 3,449,699 6/1969 Davin ZOO/38 (B) X 3,465,110 9/1969 Marcelet al ABSTRACT: In a programmer for electric household appliances and having a continuously rotating reversing cam unit, a program cam unit which rotates in step-by-step motion, identical contactor elements capable of being actuated by the cams and stacked in any desired number, said contactor elements being mounted between two end-plates and comprising male connectors which can be associated with movable connectors connected to contact-strips and fitted with contactpoints, means for driving the program cams in step-by-step motion and associated with means for putting them temporarily out of action and at least one constant-speed electric motor, the fact that the end-plate which limits the stack of contactor elements on one side constitutes a separate contactor element which is adapted to receive stationary and movable contacts and has a continuous surface which is pierced by a central hole which serves as a bearing for the cam shaft, by smooth holes for fixing the apparatus by means of screws engaged without previous tapping in the said holes which are so arranged as to permit all the usual fixing arrangements, and by holes for the pivotal mounting of the swivel-pins of effort-multiplication levers for controlling from the cams contact-strips which are intended to serve as a general switch and consequently to have a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position.

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PROGRAMMER FOR ELECTRIC HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES This invention is directed to a programmer for electric household appliances, said programmer being of the type comprising a cam-holder drum or cam unit for actuating contacts and specially designed to meet the large number of different combinations which can be required by the many users of such appliances, this result being achieved with the minimum number of different components as well as small overall size and minimized capital cost.

It is known that, in appliances of this type, provision must be made for different arrangements according to the applications which are contemplated. It is thus preferable in some cases to have only one driving motor for the group of cams which rotates continuously and for controlling the means which drive the cam unit in step-by-step motion whereas, in other cases, it is preferable to have recou rse to two separate motors. The wide range of different models on the one hand and the continual need to reduce capital cost on the other hand present the manufacturer with a permanent problem to which there is no final or definite solution owing to the inherent nature of this problem. 7

in accordance with the invention, the programmer which comprises in known manner a continuously rotating reversingcam unit and a program-cam unit which rotates in step-by-step motion; contacting elements which are operable by means of said cams and can be stacked at the time of assembly so as to constitute as a function of the appliance to be provided an assembly of any number of contacts which are mounted between two end-plates and comprise male connectors capable of being associated with movable connectors having different sizes, movable contact strips having asymmetric flexibility and contact studs formed by an addition of noble metal which is reduced in volume by means of a stamped portion of the metallic support; means for controlling the step-by-step motion of the program cams with variable periods and associated with electromagnetic means for disengaging the drive; and two motors preferably of the type in which a portion of the stator is derived from the mounting plate of the speed-reduction unit, one of said motors being intended to produce the step-by-step motion of the cam unit, is characterized in that the end-plate which limits one side of the stack of contactor elements constitutes a contactor element which is adapted to receive the stationary and movable contacts and is provided with a continuous surface in which is pierced a central hole serving as a bearing for the cam shaft and smooth holes intended to receive screws for fixing the appliance without previous tapping, said holes being placed in such a manner as to make provision for all the usual arrangements, and holes for the pivotal motion of swivel-pins of effort multiplication levers for actuating from the cams contact strips which are intended to serve as a general switch and to provide at the time of opening a clearance of-predetermined value such as 3 millimeters, for example. I

in order to provide for the case in which the programmer to be constructed is of the type comprising one or a number of cams which are capable of taking up two positions in the axial direction, the end-plate further comprising means for attaching a hairpin-type positioning spring which is intended to cooperate with two grooves of the shaft, said attachment means consisting of an opening beneath which is engaged the back of the hairpin spring and of two hooks beneath which each arm is retained elastically. Said end-plate is further provided with countersunk recesses which are concentric with the assembly holes for accommodating screw heads.

Moreover, the end-plate which limits the stack of contactor elements on the opposite side constitutes a particular contac-' tor element which is adapted to receive the stationary and movable contacts and constitutes a single member which incorporates all the elemcnts required in order to permit of utilization without modification in different models of programmers.

On the internal face, the end-plate is characterized in that it 1 comprises. a'central hole forming a bearing for the camshaft,

an annular recess concentric with the shaft for accommodating a'coil spring whichis intended to thrust forward in the -ried out by means of a second motor),

axial direction a member for effecting the angular positioning of the cams, bores for receiving metallic pins which prevent the rotation of said positioning member (said bores are not employed in the case in which the step-by-step motion is cara circular groovefor receiving the lip of the internally toothed reversing cam unit, a hole for guiding the shaft of the output pinion ofa first speedreduction unit, the aforesaid hole and circular groove being secant in order that the output pinion should be capable of engaging with an internal set of teeth formed on one lip of the reversing cam unit, a stud in which are formed two longitudinalgrooves located in the plane ol'a transverse groove so as to permit the attachment with defined orientation of a bladespring for maintaining in the engagcd position a pawl for driving the cam unit in step-by-step motion (said stud is not cmployed in the case in which the stepping motion is carried out by means ofa second motor), a third hole fitted with a tubular bushing which projects towards the interior ofthe cam unit so as to guide the shaft of the output pinion of a second speedreduction unit, the hole last mentioned being secant with an internally toothed ring for driving the cam unit (said hole is not employed if the programmer is equipped with only one motor).

1 On the outer face which is remote from the cam unit, the end-plate forms a casing in which is mounted thespeed-reduction unit of the first motor and if sorequired the speed-reduction unit of the second motor and the electromagnet for controlling the disengagement of the step-by-step drive. The base ofsaid casing is provided with holes for receiving metallic pins or shafts of different moving elements, bosses and hollowedout portions being arranged so as to define the relative positions of the different moving elements (in the axial direction), so that the material of the base of the casing naturally takes up the space which is left free by the moving elements without producing any additional thickness; accordingly, the essential thickness which is made necessary by the torque to be transmitted to the end gears of the speed-reduction units is obtained by providing said gears with a cupped shape, the concave side of which is located on the same side as the output pinion and that a channel which is concentric with the bore of the output pinion is formed in the end-plate so as to accommodate the edge of the cup, said channel being designed to extend in depth until it opens into the channel of the opposite face which accommodates the lip of the reversing-cam unit so that, after assembly, said lip and the edge of the cup which forms the terminal gear come practically in contact with a clearance ofthe order of0.1 millimeter.

In the case of a single motor, the casing is closed by means of a plate of mild steel in which the poles of the stator of the motor are die-stamped by cutting-out and folding. The rotor of the motor is set by overmolding on a ferrite ring and comprises on the one hand a pivot for centering the shaft on the base of the stator and on the other hand a transmission pinion which traverses the casing plate without any guiding and has a bore for the purpose of pivoting on a pin which is rigidly fixed to the casing. in the case of two motors, the poles of two stators are formed on the casing plate.

The end-plate is further characterized in that recesses are provided for receiving relay-connectors, said connectors being maintained'in position by means of projecting studs provided for this purpose on the contactor elements.

Means are provided for facilitating the assembly of the apparatus and these means consist on the one hand of aligned holes formed in the reduction-gear end-plate and in the casing plate and serve to introduce a temporary hook so that the spring of the angular positioning member is thus maintained in the set position and, on the other hand, of aligned holes formed in both end-plates and in the contactor elements for the purpose of inserting temporary pins formaintaining the contact strips in the set position and permitting the introduc v tion'of the cam unit.

Single-motor Programmer The apparatus is mounted with a casing-plate having a sin-, gle motor with only the first speed-reduction unit for driving the reversing cams.

The means for actuating the step-by-step cams consist of a pawl which is endowed with a reciprocating movement and mounted on the output pinion of the speed-reduction unit by means of an eccentric pin forming a crankpin, the nose of which is caused by a blade spring to engage with an internal set of teeth of the cam unit.

A cam having an internal profile and rigidly fixed to the reversing cam is adapted to cooperate with a feeler heel of the pawl so as to prevent the engagement thereof with said set of teeth except over a short angular travel which corresponds to one step.

' By reason of the fact that the range of travel which permits the driven motion of the pawl must be'in phase with a displacement of the pawl in the active direction, it is necessary to provide means for locating the set of teeth of the pinion relative to the driving teeth of the cam. Said means consist of a tooth having a double thickness (absence of a tooth space) on the pinion to which there correspond on the toothed ring four tooth spaces of corresponding width (absence of one tooth).

The pawl comprises an arm fitted with a crankpin which is brought through an orifice of the end-plate in the plane of a lever which is actuated by an electromagnet, the cnergization of which prevents the pawl from engaging with the internal SCI of teeth so as to produce one step.

The pinion comprises a second bore which is symmetrical with respect to the axis of the bore which accommodates the crankpin; said second bore is intended to restore symmetry. otherwise thepinion has an eccentric portion after molding.

Programmer with two motors The apparatus is mounted with a plate carrying two motors 4 and with the second speed reduction unit but the crankpin, the

pawl, the blade spring, the electromagnet and its lever, the pins for preventing the rotation of the angular positioning member are not mounted. v

' The angular positioning member comprises a skirt provided with an internal set of teeth which is adapted to engage with the output pinion of the second speed-reduction unit so as to ensure that the angular positioning member is maintained in a fixed position when stopped.

When a pulse causes the second motor to rotate by a quantity corresponding to one step, the angular positioning member drives the cam unit over a distance corresponding to one step.

The pulses are provided by a pulse cam which is rigidly fixed to the reversing cams and which carries three bottom bosses so as to actuate only the first of two stepped contacts and a fourth boss located in a higher position and also intended to actuate the second contact. If the second contact has been selected, one pulse is produced and therefore results in one step per revolution. If the first contact has been selected, there accordingly occur four pulses and therefore four steps per revolution of the reversing cam.

The cam unit comprises a cam for self-maintaining the rotation and this latter is provided with a number of bosses corresponding to the number of steps provided in a complete revolution, said cam being placed next to the pulse cam so as to actuate the same contact.

The cam unit has three teeth set at 120 relative to each other so as to engage in the recesses of the angular positioning member, the number of said recesses being the same as the number of steps provided in a complete revolution; said number can be any multiple of three. This arrangement makes it possible when it is desired to make provision for an addiments which govern the profiles of the additional cams.

All the foregoing characteristics as well as further properties will become more readily apparent from the following detail description given with reference to the accompanying drawings and relating to one form of construction which is given-by way of example without any intended limitation.

In these drawings:

FIG. ii is a general fragmentary view of the programmer in the mechanical step-by-step form of construction;

FIG. 2 is a view of the programmer ofFIG. I looking on the left-hand side;

FIG. 3 is a general fragmentary view of the programmer in the electric step-by-step form of construction;

FIG. 4 is a view of the programmer of FIG. 3 looking on the left-hand side;

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate certain detail improvements of the contactor elements;

FIG. 8 illustrates a portion of the front end-plate;

FIG. 9 shows a portion of the mechanical step-by-step mechanism in which certain details are clearly brought out;

FIGS. 10 and II are two views located at right angles to each other and showing the mechanicalstep-by-step'pawl;

FIG; I2 is a view of the rear end-plate looking on the motor side (right-hand side in FIGS. l and 3);

FIG. I3 is a partial view of the side of the motor opposite to the rear end-plate;

FEGS. l4, I5, 16, 17 and 18 are partial cross sections showing constructional details.

FIGS. I and 3 illustrate two alternative forms of a programmer, the body of which cor. ,ists in known manner of a stack of modular contactor elements I. The end-plate 2 of the programmer (as show Flo's. l, 2, 3, 4 and 8) is a molded component of insuiatiiig material which constitutes the support for a last contactor element and is provided on the internal face thereof with guiding and insertion means 1 as designated by the reference 2a in FIG. 8 for the electric connectors at all points and comparable to the guiding and insertion means which are provided on the elements 11. The endplate 2 has a surface 2b pierced by a hole 2c which serves as a bearing for the shaft 3 of the cam unit 4. Fixing holes 2d. are formed in the end-plate 2 iii-order to permit all' the fixing arrangements which are customarily met with. A circular flange 2e serves as an abutment in the axial direction for a lip 4a of the cam unit 4 whilst an opening 2f formedinthe thickness of the flange 2e provides a passageway 2g for the engagement of the loop' of a hairpin spring 5, the two arms of which are held by hooked portions 2h formed inthc flange 2e by means of an opening 2i. The hairpin spring 5 is adapted to cooperate with the grooves 3a of the shaft 3 in order to set a cam 6 in either of two positions (push-pull). If the piogrammer is of the type shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or in other W1)1dS does not comprise an axial-displacement cam 6, the spring 5 is in that case not mounted. The points 2j correspond to holes llj and are the centers for receiving the swivel-pins of levers 7 which may be provided for amplification of motion and are intended to actuate the contact strips such as the strip 8 in the case in which the contacts which are designed to serve as a general switch are intended to have a substantial contact clearance. The holes 2k which correspond to the holes 1k serve to place parallcl to the shaft 3 temporary assembly pins for maintaining the feelers in the uplifted position in a transient manner and to facilitate the positioning of the cams. The holes 21 are inspection windows for ascertaining at the time of assembly that the angular position of the cams relative to the feelers is correct. The holes 2m are inspection windows for viewing the contactsv FIGS. 5, 6 and '7 illustrate aso-called modular" contactor element I which has in particular the following features:

the assembly hole la comprises a cylindrical guide portion la which projects from one face and a recessed guide portion la on the opposite face whilst the assembly hole lb comprises a cylindrical guide portion lb which pro jects from the second face and a guide portion lb" which forms a recess in the first face, thereby preventing the face of any one element from being erroneously reversed with respect to the other face; 1 the assembly hole 1c comprises a cylindrical recessed guide portion in the first face and a projecting guide por- -tion 1c onthe second face whilst the hole 1d does not have any guide portion, thereby preventing the possibility of any one element being rotated with respect to the other elements through one-half revolution in the same plane;

four ribs 1e are provided between adjacent connectors, each rib being provided with an enlarged portion 1e having a size such that it comes very close to the female connector which is-in position over the male connector, said male connector being thus supported in such a manner as.

to prevent two female connectors which form part of different circuits from coming too close to each other as a result of a bending movement of the male connector on which they are mounted;

the'partitions 1f for separating and guiding the female connectors are each provided at the base thereof with a small cutout portion lg which is intended to maintain insulating plates against the faces 1h, the-identification references of the connectors being marked on said plates; the corresponding partitions' of the end-plates are not provided with cutout portions so that said plates are not liable to becomedetached;

four projecting legs li are intended to hold in position relay connectors 10 which are mounted in the rear end-plate 9 (as shown in FIGS. 13 and 18); l the holes lj serve as bearings for the tion-amplifying lever 7 should latter; the holes 1k serve to insert provisional assembly rods for maintaining the moving contact strips in their uplifted positions; said rods (which traverse the front'end-plate through the holes 2k are removed after assembly.

It is apparent that the components hereinabove described lend themselves to different combinations; thus (as shown in FlGS. 2, 4 and 5), a flexible contact strip 8 can be operated both by a lever 7 and by the heel 11b of thefeeler finger 11a of a contact strip 11 of the asymmetrical flexibility type. When the strip 8 comprises a contact 8a at the point at which said strip isjoined to the connector 12, a method of assembly which can advantageously be adopted consists in making use of the added precious metal which constitutes the contact point 8a as an electrode for spot-welding the members 8 and 12. The connectors 13 together with their contact points 13a are preferably of the type in which a stamped portion of the support permits a saving of the precious metal which is employed for the contact points 13a. For reasons of economy of material, the connectors 12 and 13 are of the narrow type but, by virtue of the presence of the partitions if, said connectors can receive indifferently either wide or narrow female connectors.

The programmer is further characterized in that the rear swivel-pins of a moprovision be made'for this end-plate 9 (FlGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 13 and 14) is a single molded I reversing cam unit 14; a contact-stud 9g having two longitudinal grooves located in the plane of a transverse groove so as to permit the attachment (with a defined orientation) of a blade spring 16 (as shown in FIGS. 2, 13, 16 and 17); a second bore 9h fitted with a tubular sleeve which projects towards the interior of the cam unit in order to guide the shaft 17 of the pinion 170, said bore being so arranged as to be secant with an internally toothed ring 12 (the bore 9h is not employed if the programmer is of the type comprising a single motor); holes 9k corresponding to the holes 1k and 2k for the assembly pins; recesses 91 provided with openings 91' serve to mount relay terminals 10 which are held in position by the studs 11' as shown in FIGS. 13 and 18).

On the other face thereof, the rear end-plate 9 forms a casing for housing the speed-reduction unit or units, the gears of which are pivoted on pins 18 which are forcibly fitted within bores 9m. Channels9n which are concentric with the bores 9] and 9h serve to accommodate without any loss of space in the axial direction the cup-shaped rims of the terminal gears of the speed-reduction unit 15b17b and said channels 9n open into the channel 92.

The casing of the speed-reduction unit is closed by a plate 19 (as shown in FIG. 1) or 19' (as shown in FIG/3) of mild steel from which the poles of the single motor or ofeach of the two motors are brought out by cutting-out and folding.

The aperture 9p is a hole for the insertion of a temporary hook for securing the positioning member 12 when the spring 11 is compressed.

part formed of insulating material which constitutes a support element of the contactor and comprises on the internal face thereof: guiding and insertion means such as the means 9a (as shown in FIG. 13) for accommodating the stationary and movable contacts; a central bore 9c which forms a bearing for the cam shaft 3; a concentric annular recess 9b for accommodating a coil spring 11 which is intended to displace in the axial direction a member for angular positioning of the earns 12 (as shown in FIG. 1); bores 9d pins 13 which are intended to prevent the rotation of the angular positioning member l2; a circular slot 9e for receiving thinternally toothed lip 14a of the reversing cam unit 14 (in thr; case of two-motor programmers, the pins 13 are not mounted); a first bore 9ffor guiding the shaft 15 of the output pinion 15a of a first speed-reduction unit, said bore 9f and the circular slot 9e being secant in order that the pinion 15a can for accommodating metallic v engage with the internal set of teeth of the lip 14a of the An opening. 91: makes it possible for a pin 200 which is rigidly fixed to the driving pawl 20 to pass through the endplate 9 in order to cooperate with a lever 2i which is actuated by the plunger 22 of an electromagnet 23. v

The pawl 20 which is engaged by means of its bore 20d (FIGS. 9, 10 and 11) over and eccentric pin which is inset at the end of a pinion 15 is endowed with a reciprocating moveme nt. The pawl is provided with a feeler nose 20a for the purpose of following an internal cam 14b of the reversing cam 14; a zone 14b having a longer radius is provided on said internal cam'so that the nose of the pawl 20 may thus be permitted to engage with an internal set of teeth 4b of the cam unit. 1 order that the pawl should be in the driving direction when the zone 14b comes in front of the feelcr nose 20a, the teeth 15a ofthc pinion 15 and the internal teeth 14a of-the reversing cam located relative to each other by means of a large tooth 15a which, as it passes, fits within four large corresponding spaces 14a of the internal set of teeth 14a.

7 By means of the pin 20c provided at the extremity of the arm 20b of the pawl 20,the cam unit 4 can be prevented from being driven in step-by-step motion in known manner by virtue of the electromagnet 23.

The cam unit 4 is provided with three teeth 40 adapted to cooperate with notches 12a of the positioning member 12, the number of said notches which can be any multiple of three being a function of the particular requirement of each program.

When the programmer is of the type comprising two motors, the pawl 20, the spring 16, the positioning member 12 and the pins 13 are not provided. A positioning member 12" provided with notches 12a for the purpose of cooperating with the three teeth 4c of the cam unit 4 and an internal set of teeth 12b is adapted to engage with the output pinion 17a of the second speed-reduction unit.

The step-by-step pulses are provided by a cam 14b which is rigidly fixed to the reversing cams; said cam 14b-has three bot tom bosses for actuating only the first of two contacts and a fourth boss located in a higher position and also intended to actuate the second contact, thereby providing the possibility or four pulses pcr revolution as desired.

The cam unit 4 comprises a cam 4d for self-maintaining the rotation, said cam being provided with a number of bosses corresponding to the number of steps provided in a complete revolution and being located next to the pulse cam 14b in order to produce action on the same contact.

lclaim:

'nectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program can unit in step-by-step motion, and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a-separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and moveable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central-hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever .means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, said lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one endplate; and wherein two grooves are provided on said shaft; and wherein said programmer further comprises at least one cam which is capable of displacement so as to take up two positions in the axial direction; said one end-plate further being provided with attachment means; a hairpin positioning spring having a back, two hooks and arms and which is intended to cooperate with said two grooves of said shaft; said attachment means consisting of an opening beneathwhich is engaged the back of the hairpin spring and of the two hooks, and beneath which each arm of the spring is retained elastically; said one end-plate further including countersunk recesses which are concentric with the assembly holes for accommodating the engaging screwheads.

2. A programmer as defined in claim 1, wherein said one end-plate which limits the stack of contactor elements constitutes a contactor element on the opposite side thereof which is adapted to receive such stationary and movable con-. tacts and which further constitutes a single member adapted to incorporate interchangeable elements so as to permit utilization without modification in different models of said programmer.

3. A programmer as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end-plate is provided on an internal face thereof with a central hole forming a bearing for said cam shaft, an annular recess concentric with said shaft, a coil spring accommodated in said annular recess, a positioning member thrust forward by said spring in the axial direction for effecting angular positioning of the cams, bores and metallic pins received therein which prevent the rotation of said positioning member, a circular groove and an internally toothed lip of a reversing cam unit received therein, a hole into which is guided the shaft of an output pinion of a first-speed reduction unit, said hole and circular groove being secant such that the output pinion is capable of engaging with an internal set of teeth provided on the lip of said reversing cam unit, a blade spring, a stud in which are formed two longitudinal grooves disposed in the plane of u transverse groove permitting attachment with defined orientation of the blade-spring, a pawl for driving the'canr unit in step-by-step motion, said blade-spring maintaining said pawl in an engaged position, a third hole fitted with a tubuliir bushing which projects towards the interior of said cam unit, a second speed-reduction unit having an output pinion with a shaft guided by said tubular bushing, said third hole heing secant with an internally toothed ring for driving said camunit.

4. A programmer as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end-plate forms on the outer face thereof a casing, a reduction-gear motor and an electromagnet for controlling'the disengagement of step-by-step drive mounted in said casing, said casing having a base provided ,with holes into which are received metallic pin shafts of different moving elements, bosses and hollowed-out portions for defining the relative positions of the different moving elements in the axial direction wherein the material of the base of the casing takes up the place which is left free by thc'moving elements without producing any additional thickness.

5. A programmer as defined in claim 4, wherein said casing is closed by means of a plate of mild steel in which the poles of a stator of said electric motor are die-stamped by cutting-out and folding.

6. A programmer as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end-plate is provided with recesses into which'are received relay-connectors, and projecting studs provided on the contactor elements for maintaining said relay-connectors in position.

7. in a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising: a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-bystep rotatable program cam unit; said cam unit being disposed on a cam shaft; twoend-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-step motion. and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant-speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and movable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth-holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-Plate; a reversing cam unit having internal, teeth therefor; a speed-reduction unit having an output pinion; and wherein said means for driving the program cams in step-by-stepmotion consist of a pawl having a nose and being endowed with a reciprocating movement and being pivotally mounted on the output pinion of the speedreduction unit by means of an eccentric pin, said pin defining a crankpin, blade-spring'means causing the nose of the pawl to engage with said internal set of teeth of said reversing cam I unit, said pawl further comprising a feeler heel subjected to the action of said internal-profile cam, said internal-profile cam being rigidly fixed to said reversing cam, whereby said pawl is prevented from engaging with said set of teeth except over a short angular interval which corresponds to one step.

8. A programmer as defined in claim 7, further including a lever actuated by an electromagnet, wherein said pawl comprises an arm fitted with a crankpin which is brought through an orifice of said one end-plate in the plane of said lever which is actuated by said electromagnet so that energization of said electromagnet prevents the pawl from engaging with said set of teeth so as to produce one step.

9. In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising: a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-bystep rotatable program cam unit; said cam unit being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact'points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-stcp motion and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and moveable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch'and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-plate; wherein said means for driving includes a speed-reduction unit having an output pinion, said cam units being provided with driving teeth, and wherein the position of said output pinion of said speed-reduction unit relative to said cam driving teeth is defined by means of a tooth of substantial thickness formed on said pinion and by means of corresponding recesses in said driving set of teeth.

10. A programmer as defined in claim 3, including two electric motors, and wherein said angular positioning member comprises a skirt provided with an internal set of teeth which is adapted to engage with an output pinion of a second speedreduction unit, thereby insuring that the angular positioning member is maintained in a fixed position when the corresponding motor is at a standstill.

11. In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising a continuously rotatable cam unit; a stepby-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam uniLs being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor ele ments comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to Contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-bystep motion, and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant-speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said endplates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and movable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-plate; said programmer further including an angular positioning member for said cam units, said positioning member having recesses therein; and wherein said cam units includes a cam means for self-maintaining the rotational motion, said cam means comprising a number of bosses corresponding to the number of steps provided in a complete revolution, said cam means being adapted to be places next to a pulse cam so as to produce action on an associated contact; said cam units further including three teeth set at relative to each other so as to engage in the recesses of said angular positioning member, and wherein the number of said recesses are in the same as the number of steps provided in a complete revolution and being any multiple of three. 

1. In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam units being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program can unit in step-by-step motion, and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and moveable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, said lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-plate; and wherein two grooves are provided on said shaft; and wherein said programmer further comprises at least one cam which is capable of displacement so as to take up two positions in the axial direction; said one endplate further being provided with attachment means; a hairpin positioning spring having a back, two hooks and arms and which is intended to cooperate with said two grooves of said shaft; said attachment means consisting of an opening beneath which is engaged the back of the hairpin spring and of the two hooks, and beneath which each arm of the spring is retained elastically; said one end-plate further including countersunk recesses which are concentric with the assembly holes for accommodating the engaging screwheads.
 2. A programmer as defined in claim 1, wherein said one end-plate which limits the stack of contactor elements constitutes a contactor element on the opposite side thereof which is adapted to receive such stationary and movable contacts and which further constitutes a single member adapted to incorporate interchangeable elements so as to permit utilization without modification in different models of said programmer.
 3. A programmer as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end-plate is provided on an internal face thereof with a central hole forming a bearing for said cam shaft, an annular recess concentric with said shaft, a coil spring accommodated in said annular recess, a positioning member thrust forward by said spring in the axial direction for effecting angular positioning of the cams, bores and metallic pins received therein which prevent the rotation of said positioning member, a circular groove and an internally toothed lip of a reversing cam unit received therein, a hole into which is guided the shaft of an output pinion of a first-speed reduction unit, said hole and circular groove being secant such that the output pinion is capable of engaging with an internal set of teeth provided on the lip of said reversing cam unit, a blade spring, a stud in which are formed two longitudinal grooves disposed in the plane of a transverse groove permitting attachment with defined orientation of the blade-spring, a pawl for driving the cam unit in step-by-step motion, said blade-spring maintaining said pawl in an engaged position, a third hole fitted with a tubular bushing which projects towards the interior of said cam unit, a second speed-reduction unit having an output pinion with a shaft guided by said tubular bushing, said third hole being secant with an internally toothed ring for driving said cam unit.
 4. A programmer as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end-plate forms on the outer face thereof a casing, a reduction-gear motor and an electromagnet for controlling the disengagement of step-by-step drive mounted in said casing, said casing having a base provided with holes into which are received metallic pin shafts of different moving elements, bosses and hollowed-out portions for defining the relative positions of the different moving elements in the axial direction wherein the material of the base of the casing takes up the place which is left free by the moving elements without producing any additional thickness.
 5. A programmer as defined in claim 4, wherein said casinG is closed by means of a plate of mild steel in which the poles of a stator of said electric motor are die-stamped by cutting-out and folding.
 6. A programmer as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end-plate is provided with recesses into which are received relay-connectors, and projecting studs provided on the contactor elements for maintaining said relay-connectors in position.
 7. In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising: a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam unit being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-step motion, and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant-speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and movable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth-holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-Plate; a reversing cam unit having internal teeth therefor; a speed-reduction unit having an output pinion; and wherein said means for driving the program cams in step-by-step motion consist of a pawl having a nose and being endowed with a reciprocating movement and being pivotally mounted on the output pinion of the speed-reduction unit by means of an eccentric pin, said pin defining a crankpin, blade-spring means causing the nose of the pawl to engage with said internal set of teeth of said reversing cam unit, said pawl further comprising a feeler heel subjected to the action of said internal-profile cam, said internal-profile cam being rigidly fixed to said reversing cam, whereby said pawl is prevented from engaging with said set of teeth except over a short angular interval which corresponds to one step.
 8. A programmer as defined in claim 7, further including a lever actuated by an electromagnet, wherein said pawl comprises an arm fitted with a crankpin which is brought through an orifice of said one end-plate in the plane of said lever which is actuated by said electromagnet so that energization of said electromagnet prevents the pawl from engaging with said set of teeth so as to produce one step.
 9. In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising: a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam unit being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-step motion and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and moveable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality oF mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-plate; wherein said means for driving includes a speed-reduction unit having an output pinion, said cam units being provided with driving teeth, and wherein the position of said output pinion of said speed-reduction unit relative to said cam driving teeth is defined by means of a tooth of substantial thickness formed on said pinion and by means of corresponding recesses in said driving set of teeth.
 10. A programmer as defined in claim 3, including two electric motors, and wherein said angular positioning member comprises a skirt provided with an internal set of teeth which is adapted to engage with an output pinion of a second speed-reduction unit, thereby insuring that the angular positioning member is maintained in a fixed position when the corresponding motor is at a standstill.
 11. In a programmer for electric household appliances of the type comprising a continuously rotatable cam unit; a step-by-step rotatable program cam unit; said cam units being disposed on a cam shaft; two end-plates; a plurality of identical stacked contactor elements disposed between said two end-plates and actuated by said cam units; said contactor elements comprising male connectors, associated movable connectors connected to contact strips and fitted with contact points; means for driving said program cam unit in step-by-step motion, and including means for temporarily deactivating said program cam unit, and a constant-speed electric drive motor; the improvement which comprises: one of said end-plates defining a separate contactor element and including a continuous surface; stationary and movable contacts adapted to be received by said one end-plate; said continuous surface including a central hole defining a bearing for said cam shaft, a plurality of smooth holes adapted to receive self-tapping engaging mounting screws, and a plurality of mounting holes; effort multiplication lever means for actuating said contact strips, said contact strips defining a general switch and having a clearance of at least 3 millimeters in the open position, lever means having swivel pins pivotally mounted in said mounting holes of said continuous surface of said one end-plate; said programmer further including an angular positioning member for said cam units, said positioning member having recesses therein; and wherein said cam units includes a cam means for self-maintaining the rotational motion, said cam means comprising a number of bosses corresponding to the number of steps provided in a complete revolution, said cam means being adapted to be places next to a pulse cam so as to produce action on an associated contact; said cam units further including three teeth set at 120* relative to each other so as to engage in the recesses of said angular positioning member, and wherein the number of said recesses are in the same as the number of steps provided in a complete revolution and being any multiple of three. 